Archiving Junk and Ideas

Category: Running

It’s been a while since my last post, and I wish I could say it’s because I’ve been super busy writing, but that’s not entirely true.

The last stretch of 2018 was busy, working, seeing relatives, eating like a pig, etc. It’s frustrating that I’ve not been keeping to my workout routines, or my running, but December is a month that tests all of us in lots of different ways. For me, it resulted in working more and comfort eating and seeing as many people as I could over the busy holiday period.

But I knew that once it was new year, I would do the typical “New Year, New Me” crap that everyone loves to do. I also knew, that I was a secret weapon to kick-start the process for myself. And it was cruel.

I’d signed up for the Garstang 10k Run, which I had not trained for whatsoever since November, and even then, my training was beginning to slip up, as was my diet. (My birthday is in November, I’m not made of stone.)

I’d been dreading it. I considered dropping out, and telling myself that I should do little runs, train up for the next one, whenever that comes around. (I am also going to sign up for the Manchester 10k Run too, so I have another running goal for the summertime!) But, I felt a bit like if I gave up, I’d ending up beating myself up about it relentlessly, and maybe even sink further into a rut over it. I would end up moping around about it, and fall into a little spiral, and it would take a huge blow to my self-confidence. So screw it, I went for it. I signed up to it, I should make sure I run it, right?

So I ran it yesterday. (On a cold, wet, windy and pretty horrid Sunday morning.) I wasn’t feeling at all confident at first. I was worried about my breathing, my legs, and how hilly the run would be, and I was right to be worried about all three. But, I just went for it. I didn’t go crazy and push myself too far. (I did almost have to have a tactical throw-up about 400 metres from the finish, which was a new and horrible sensation.)

But I finished. It was one of the worst 10k runs for me ever, only due to the amount of times I felt queasy whilst running, and the weather was pretty poor. But I felt amazing about myself afterwards. (aside from some chaffing – No, no I won’t go into it.) And whilst I’m hobbling around a bit today as a result, I feel pretty good about myself.

Okay, so far this whole first post back is just seems like me patting myself on the back, and okay, I am a little bit. But I don’t do it often, and I did come out the other end feeling incredibly motivated and encouraged for the rest of this year. I just need to keep that ball rolling, and don’t let it slow down too much.

But, writing and running, whilst both require a lot of self motivation, are completely different. I’m still a little worried about getting into the full swing of writing as much as I can, as often as I can. I need to find the same kind of motivation that I had in regards to running and apply it to my writing. I still want to keep this blog active, even if it’s only me reading it. (That and some of my friends who’re nice enough to let me bug them to read it!) But it’s going to be a new challenge.

If anyone has any advice for what personally helps to motivate them to sit down and start typing, especially if you’re trying to juggle things around as so many writers are so often doing, feel free to speak up!